| Dan Bianchi Sounds Off by Doug Strassler Esteemed
Off-Off-Broadway sound designer and RadioTheatre pioneer Dan Bianchi
answered some questions with the IT Awards recently. Below are some
highlights of the interview:
ITA: As someone who has been working Off-Off-Broadway for some time now, how have you seen the community grow or change?
DB:
I have worked Off-Off-Broadway for 40 years and while I don't mean to
give a history lesson on NYC Theatre, I have witnessed a lot of change. I
formed a theatre company in 1971, took it to Paris, won a couple of
Beckett Prizes, and got to work with Samuel Beckett at the Sorbonne. A
few years later, I directed several movies in Britain with members of
the RSC and then returned to NYC when it was still pretty much the Wild
West. At the time, NYC was voted as the number one crime city in
America and was considered to be the murder capital of the world. Every
other day, my actors would tell stories about how they were robbed,
beaten, tied up or had found dead junkies in their hallway. (I found a
dead prostitute myself in the stairwell of our theatre!) You wouldn't
want to go to 42nd St in the daytime...and as for East 4th Street, now
the "Downtown Theatre Row" ...it was littered with needles and
criminals. The Police called it "crime alley."
Read the rest of the interview... |
Remember to thank your customers AFTER they purchase We
do a lot to make sure that we can get customers into the theater. But,
once they purchase, what do we do to show them our appreciation? Once they are at the theater we make them feel comfortable, give them a great show, and send them on their way. The
Direct Marketing Association recently conducted a study that showed
that customers are three times more likely to re-engage with a brand
AFTER making a purchase. Wouldn't it be great to send your customer a
thank you for purchasing, tell them 3 local restaurants (maybe set up a
prix-fix with them), parking lots or subway directions. We need
to remember to THANK them before the show -- with the above information
-- and after the show with a nice note, this will help with retention
and company loyalty. This is an immediate opportunity to ensure a future
purchase. For more helpful marketing tips check out Kampfire Kounsel or the Kampfire Films PR website. |
Community Corner
HAPPENINGS, EVENTS & ISSUES AFFECTING OFF-OFF-BROADWAY - Profoundly Rewarding Experience: Voices Inside Playwrighting Residency at Northpoint
In
2011, Off-Off-Broadway playwright, Mac Rogers became the first
playwright to participate in the Voices Inside Playwriting Residency at
Northpoint Training Center. Northpoint is a male population medium
security prison in Burgin, Kentucky. Applications are now being accepted for the 2012 residency. Read about Mac's experience and check out the details for this unique and rewarding program. More info here...
- Are charitable giving incentives disappearing?
New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON) urges Congress to retain giving incentives (tax breaks) that help support non-profits. - OOB Audience Survey
The
Innovative Theatre Foundation is conducting the fourth part of our OOB
research project. This study focuses on OOB Audiences. If you are an OOB
Audience member, please take the survey today. If you have a production that will be performing in the next few months, we could use your help. Please email us at info@nyitawards.com.
For
details about these and other important activities affecting OOB and to
see how you can help and get involved, check out the Community Corner.
|
Returning you to your
regularly scheduled program
In October, we return to hosting our weekly guest bloggers and we have some great ones lined up for you:
10/23 - 10/29 Chrstine O'Grady 10/30 - 11/4 Stephanie Cox-Williams
Read about the staff's favorite productions of the 2010-2011 season.
Check out the insights from your fellow OOB artists, share your thoughts and participate in the conversation. IT Awards Blog  When you're not producing, registering, performing in, or judging shows, please stop by FULL OF IT! |
| Handwritten letters from SANTA!
Do you have nieces, nephews, children of your own or friends with kids?
Or friends who act like kids?
If
so... give them a special holiday gift that will excite their
imagination, tickle their funny bone and enhance their Christmas
experience.
PERSONALIZE LETTERS FROM SANTA
TO YOUR CHILD! - Handwritten and personalized
- Addressed to your child
- Postmarked from the North Pole
$5 Personalized typeset letter to your child
$10 Personalized handwritten letter to your child
During
this Magical and exciting time of year, children are anticipating their
visit from Santa and the joys and surprises of Christmas morning.
Enhanced their Christmas experience with a handwritten, personalized
letter from Santa, addressed to your child and postmarked from the North
Pole. Even the most skeptical child will believe the authenticity of
this special keepsake.
All proceeds benefit the IT Foundation. And if you are really in the giving spirit, you can help us spread the word about this service.
|
|
| | | SPOTLIGHT ON
Rachel Klein
by Christopher Borg
| The Cast of
The Tragedy of Maria Macabre
|
Noted
as being among the best dressed at the 2011 IT Award Ceremony, the
striking director and choreographer, Rachel Klein, makes an impression
on and off the stage. The multi-talented Klein, who was nominated
for both Outstanding Director and Outstanding Choreography/Movement
(along with co-choreographers Angela Harriell and Ashley Morgan Monroe)
for the The House of Yes' 2010 production of Circus of Circus, has another show opening at the Wild Project this week: The Tragedy of Maria Macabre which Klein conceived, designed and choreographed. The
theatrical dance piece is inspired by 19th century European Circus
imagery, silent horror films, and el Dia de los Muertos. The story
begins at the end of the life of the twisted heroine, Miss Macabre, who,
upon dying is not granted eternal slumber, but instead she (and the
audience) is treated to a whirling, kaleidoscopic carnival of horrors. Klein
says of the piece, which is being produced by RKP Theatre Ensemble: "My
Ensemble and I have been developing this piece for the past 2 years and
it is sort of our masterpiece to date! Whimsical horror, dancing
skeletons, and rigor mortis awesomeness" (sounds perfect for October)
"...is a morbid funhouse where humanity is stripped away and a permanent
place in the gruesome chorus line is all but assured.." Time to get your spook on!
The Tragedy of Maria Macabre will play a limited two-week engagement at The Wild Project October 20-30; Thursday through Sundays. For tickets go to SmartTix - www.smarttix.com Check out a video trailer for The Tragedy of Maria Macabre. _____________________ |
| Get your IT Awards Merchandise
Show
your community spirit and support the IT Awards with T-Shirts, hats,
photos & DVDs from the 2011 IT Awards ceremony, and books about OOB
and NYC Theatre.
You can get yours now at our shop.
BUY AMAZON
And
don't forget, any time you buy something from Amazon and start by going
through our website, we get a percentage of your sale with no
additional cost to you.
Just start by going to Amazon through our shop.
|
| _______________________________ THE IT AWARDS ARE SPONSORED BY NYC's professional Playbill & Audience building resource 
Providing Marketing and Public Relations |
|
